Kevin Michael Kinzer, our fiercely loved brother and the golden child of our parents, has left this world for his new adventure in heaven. We know he will continue to watch over and guide us until we are able to joyfully meet him again. Kevin gifted the world with his presence on October 26, 1956. The same day that Miles Davis led his quintet in a famous recording session- an auspicious beginning to Kevin’s life-long love affair with jazz. Kevin was ultimately joined by his five adoring sisters. Our life together was filled with laughter and music.

Kevin, a remarkable student, attended Our Lady of Fatima, Gonzaga Preparatory High School, and the University of Notre Dame. At G-Prep, Kevin was not only a very cute and strong cheer boy during football season, but a star of the varsity basketball and baseball teams. He was a true scholar in any subject, if you needed to know about virtually anything, you turned to Kevin for an answer.

At Notre Dame during the glory days of Digger Phelps and Dan Devine, Kevin attended as many games as he could. He remained invested through the years, celebrating his last ND home game for his 67th birthday with a rout of Pitt 58-7.

After leaving ND in 1979, Kevin put his dreams aside for several years to come home to care for his younger sisters in the wake of the devastating death of our mother. Kevin was the consistent glue that held our family together during this time. Where darkness had settled on us, he brought his light, his kindness, and his sense of humor to heal us. There is truly no way to pay back an unselfish gift like this, although he was always humble and expected nothing in return.

In 1985, Kevin cold-called Hallmark cards by mailing a portfolio of his comedic writing to them. They were impressed and offered him a position with their humor writing team. He quickly became part of the groundbreaking original team of writers and artists to launch Shoebox Cards- a “tiny, little division of Hallmark”. In just a short while, Shoebox became Hallmark’s biggest money maker. Kevin’s colleagues shared that not only was he one of Shoebox’s most prolific writers, but he set a benchmark for content that was both hilarious and unexpected.

In 2000, at the ripe age of 44, Kevin retired from Hallmark and moved back to Spokane to be closer to his family. He continued to write his own line of cards. Anyone who knew him received a custom-made card for birthdays and holidays. Kevin was a prolific and talented photographer. He was never seen without a camera around his neck, and his family will cherish the number of memories he was able to capture for us over the years. Kevin was also an avid GU basketball fan, holding a season ticket dating back to before the team excelled.

Kevin’s devotion to his Catholic faith led him to become the sacristan at St. Aloysius parish, a position he held for over 25 years. He assisted with countless baptisms, funerals, weddings, and GU events. He took pride in gently caring for all things parish related including the upkeep of the beautiful Mother Mary Grotto.

Kevin was diagnosed with a level 4 inoperable glioblastoma in March and immediately lost his short-term memory. His long-term memory and his ability to immediately have a witty comeback never ceased during his illness. Apart from always being funny, he was stoic and brave, and it was a great gift for his family to care for him on his final journey. The laughter, tears, and memories we made with him will help to heal our hearts from this tremendously large loss.

A word of thanks to all his friends who have held him up during this time, particularly his G-Prep crew and the writers and artists from Shoebox. Dr. Christopher Lee of Cancer Care Northwest was a beacon of light for our family, allowing all five sisters to come to any of his appointments as he guided us with humane palliative care. He also put up with our incessant vampire jokes. Thank you to Fr. Tom Lamanna and the team at St. Al’s for their blessings, prayers, and for loving our brother.

Kevin Michael Kinzer, the greatest brother and uncle of all time, passed away surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by the following grateful and admiring people: his sisters Lisa Weber, Bridget Webster, Karen Kinzer, Mary Doohan, and Sarah Kinzer; his brothers-in-law Chris, Geoff, Joe, and Marco; his nephews and nieces: Patrick, Ashley, Jacob, Zachary, Ellen, Elizabeth, Colin, Giacobbe, Grace, Sean, Alicia, Trevor, Brendan, Jack, Iris Mary, and Eleanor; numerous cousins, friends, and an entire community across the U.S. whose lives he touched and inspired. Kevin is preceded in death by parents, Ellen and Bill, his Raftis and Kinzer grandparents, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Please join us to celebrate his remarkable life at the following events: 

Rosary: Thursday, November 5th at 7:00pm at St. Aloysius Gonzaga church.

Funeral mass: Friday, November 6th at 1:00pm at St. Aloysius Gonzaga church with a reception to follow at The Hemmingson Center on GU’s campus.

Kevin was a huge fan of a good Hawaiian shirt. In his honor, please feel free to wear your favorite one to any of his services. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Kevin Kinzer ’75 Memorial Scholarship at Gonzaga Prep. Gifts may be made at www.gprep.com/kevinkinzer.